Real Advice Galhttp://madamedeals.com
Your Truthful GirlfriendTue, 03 Mar 2015 22:47:44 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1SHOPBOP Coupon Codes for The Big Event Sale!http://madamedeals.com/shopbop-coupon-codes-for-the-big-event-sale/
http://madamedeals.com/shopbop-coupon-codes-for-the-big-event-sale/#commentsTue, 03 Mar 2015 12:43:52 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=522157SHOPBOP Coupon Codes The Big Event The Big Shopbop Sale is here! If I were you make sure to head on to SHOPBOP.com now and take advantage of their super hot sale. This is a great opportunity for you to stock up your wardrobe with whole lot of spring/summer clothes and accessories for less. The...

The Big Shopbop Sale is here! If I were you make sure to head on to SHOPBOP.com now and take advantage of their super hot sale. This is a great opportunity for you to stock up your wardrobe with whole lot of spring/summer clothes and accessories for less. The more you shop the bigger the discount but be quick before stocks and sizes run out.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/shopbop-coupon-codes-for-the-big-event-sale/feed/2Showing Our #DisneySide With A Party + FREE Disney Food Label Printables!http://madamedeals.com/showing-disneyside-party-free-disney-food-label-printables/
http://madamedeals.com/showing-disneyside-party-free-disney-food-label-printables/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 19:21:59 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=522120Showing Our #DisneySide With A Party + FREE Disney Food Label Printables! Disclosure: I was provided awesome party supplies from Disney in ordered to facilitate this post, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own! February has been a tough month around my house! We have had 1 little one with a case...

Disclosure: I was provided awesome party supplies from Disney in ordered to facilitate this post, but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

February has been a tough month around my house! We have had 1 little one with a case of Scarlet Fever, another one with a bad cold, and to top it all off, we were stuck in the house for over a week due to a freak ice/snow storm. So to say that we needed a little Disney Magic in our house is an understatement. 3 big events happen in our home during February and those are Valentine’s Day, my moms birthday and my husbands moms birthday so we decided to combine all of them into one fun and fantastic #DisneySide party!

We have always been huge Disney fans in my house, so when I got to chance to share my #DisneySide with my friends and family I knew I had to jump on it! I love any reason to hang out with those close to me, and my daughter fancy’s herself a party planner so we really had a good time!

Here is how we showed off our #DisneySide at our party:

The People- What’s a party without awesome people to share it with right? We had an intimate party with 7 of my favorite people ever! We turned it into an all day affair so not only could we party but we could catch up and really have fun spending the day together!

The Fun- When you get a group of people like us together you are sure to have a good time! Add in the magic of Disney, and we will have a fantastic time! Disney provided me with some fun decorations, party games, favors, and ideas to ensure we had a great day. We are currently planning a family trip to Disney within the next year so we popped in the Disney Vacation Planning DVD for our guests to enjoy while the party was going on. We also had a Mickey “tattoo” studio, a game station, and lot’s of fun food. Speaking of food….

The Food- Coming up with the menu was probably my favorite part of the whole party! There are SO many different ways you can show your #DisneySide with fun snacks! Our menu included A Hot Diggaty Dog bar, We Finish Each Others Sandwiches, Mickey Mouse Cupcakes, Cinderella’s Pumpkins (candies) , Vanellope’s Cherry Bombs (maraschino cherries) , Mater’s Tow Cables (twizzlers), Just around the riverbend Water (My daughters idea that she was very proud of), and Alice in wonderland soda’s. I made these cute labels to use if you are planning your own #DisneySide party in the future!

The Games- Another important part of a great party are the games! Disney sent us a fun Pin the Smile on the Mickey game that was a big hit! We also had word searches, trivia, bingo, and took some time to have a Disney dance party with our Now that’s what I call Disney cd’s!

Having our #DisneySide party really cheered everyone up and helped us remember that as long as you have great friends and family around, then you have everything you need <3

]]>http://madamedeals.com/showing-disneyside-party-free-disney-food-label-printables/feed/5Karla’s Korner: Write Onhttp://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-write/
http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-write/#respondMon, 02 Mar 2015 15:10:06 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=522097Write On…. It was my husband’s birthday this week and a large envelope arrived in the mailbox; it was from his sister Diane. Intrigued he carefully opened it to discover four children’s birthday cards, one for each of a child’s first four birthdays. A bit confused he opened the first one and read the following...

It was my husband’s birthday this week and a large envelope arrived in the mailbox; it was from his sister Diane. Intrigued he carefully opened it to discover four children’s birthday cards, one for each of a child’s first four birthdays. A bit confused he opened the first one and read the following words: “To our darling little David. From Mummy, Daddy & Diane. 28/2/64. With tears filling his eyes he shared these treasures with me; I choked back a flood of emotions knowing just what these cards represented to him and just how much he misses his parents every day. A call with his sister later that day revealed that she had opened a strong box belonging to their parents this week and discovered the cards among the important items carefully tucked away for safekeeping.

Holding the well preserved cards in my hands I imagined little David as he celebrated those sweet birthdays with his family and how special his momma made birthdays for him and his four siblings. She was a rather simple lady, quiet, faithful, gracious and giving and never asked much (if anything) for herself. I imagine a young mother brooding over her five children making sure each of their birthdays was special for them. Holding onto those cards to be discovered as an adult made this birthday extra-special for David. Although gone nearly two years she blessed him on his special day just like she did every year for 50 of his birthdays.

How often do we receive a card, letter or note in the mail read it set it aside and eventually throw it away? Do we even read the entire card, letter or note written inside? It seems that life requires so much time and energy that stopping to read even a small card takes too much time. What if instead of tossing out notes and cards we kept them, tucked them away to pull out at a later date and remember a special event, or the person who sent it?

When we sit down and share our thoughts, sympathies, love, gratitude and everyday life in a written letter we allow ourselves to share in an intimate powerful way; it’s the next best thing to showing up at someone’s door. Letter writing is very personal. It’s something tangible that comes from your hands, from your world and travels through the postal highway and is placed in someone’s mailbox. The recipient handles the paper that you handled and they see your personality and individuality expressed in your handwriting. It is a very intimate experience. One of my greatest treasures is a large box stored away in the closet in my basement. Inside that box are piles of old cards. Somewhere tucked away in somewhat chronological order are birthday cards (and other occasions) given to me by family and special friends since my first birthday. Once in a while I will sit on the floor with my box going through old graduation, wedding and sympathy cards mourning the loss of our precious baby are all tucked away in my box holding onto memories waiting for me to re-visit, remember and reflect.

I encourage you to save special cards, notes and letters you receive. Knowing that keeping everything is impossible it is important to hang on to the ones from those closest to our hearts and those that mark certain milestone events in your life. Even more I encourage you to write a letter to someone special; someone you may not see often. Each week I write a letter to a special friend. The joy I feel knowing on Monday mornings when I place her letter in my mailbox that she will find it tucked away in her mailbox 450 miles away in a few short days is wonderful. Hearing her tell me how special it is to receive those letters each week and how she carefully stores them away makes is even more wonderful.

Hold onto your memories, share yourself through written words to those you love and care for. Contemporary Japanese writer Haruki Murakami once wrote “How wonderful it is to be able to write someone a letter! To feel like conveying your thoughts to a person, to sit at your desk and pick up a pen, to put your thoughts into words like this is truly marvelous.” Children’s author Susan Lendroth shared her thoughts on writing and receiving letters by saying “To write is human, to receive a letter: Devine!” The key is communicating with others, taking time to put a pen to paper and share our thoughts is a gift to both writer and recipient. Write on…..

Peace, Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-write/feed/0Big Hero 6 Movie Viewing Party!http://madamedeals.com/big-hero-6-movie-watching-party/
http://madamedeals.com/big-hero-6-movie-watching-party/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 11:00:08 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521865Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigHero6Release #CollectiveBias My kids absolutely loved the movie Big Hero 6 movie when they saw it in the theater and could not wait until it came out on DVD. Luckily they don’t have to wait any longer!...

]]>Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigHero6Release #CollectiveBias

My kids absolutely loved the movie Big Hero 6 movie when they saw it in the theater and could not wait until it came out on DVD. Luckily they don’t have to wait any longer! Big Hero 6 is now available at Walmart! I ran out to pick up the movie at Walmart as soon as it was released and it is a good thing I did because they were selling fast. I bought the Blue Ray DVD Combo pack with a bonus gift dvd “The Science of Big Hero 6″. This pack also came with a free digital copy for on Vudu. I found out that my friends kids had never seen the movie so we decided to invite them over and have a movie watching party. I made special snacks, cupcakes, and a super fun activity. Keep reading for my recipes and activity directions!

Big Hero 6 Movie Baymax Cupcakes

For this party I decided to make BayMax cupcakes inspired by the suit of armor BayMax wears. So the plan is to have red cupcakes with purple frosting and a marshmallow inside. I started with a mix for red velvet cupcakes. I mixed it up according to the package directions. Then I filled the cupcake liners and added a marshmallow in the middle. Then bake the cupcakes according to the directions. When you bake them the marshmallow melts leaving a space for you to insert another marshmallow. Add a second marshmallow to each cupcake and bake for another 2 minutes. Don’t worry the cupcakes at this stage do not look very good but be patient once you add the frosting they will be looking great. Let the cupcakes cool and then frost with purple frosting. Voila! Baymax the cupcake.

Big Hero 6 Movie Microbot pizza snacks

This snack is a little time consuming to make but the bread cones parts can be made ahead of time. The kids were so excited when they saw these and they really gobbled them up. The pizza roll recipe is easy to follow. The adults at the party really liked this snack too!

Big Hero 6 Movie Honey Lemon “Chem-Balls” Activity

In the movie, the character, Honey Lemon, has a special power that involves making chem-balls in her messenger bag that has a mini- laboratory inside. So I thought we would have some extra fun at our party and throw some exploding chem-balls. Don’t worry this aresenal is completely safe. To make the chem-balls all you need are small balloons (water balloon size works great) and several cans of foaming shaving cream (get the cheap stuff). You fill the balloons with shaving cream directly from the can. Tie the balloon closed and then let the kids toss them. When the balloons land they pop and explode and shaving cream expands into a big blob. Make sure you take this activity outside or put down some tarps in your basement or garage. We also used biodegradable balloons so we did not have to go around and pick them all up. The kids loved throwing the chem-balls and squealed with delight when they made a loud pop.

If you are feeling extra crafty you can make your party guests their own Honey Lemon chemistry bag. This can be the party favor. I made this bag with two squares of fleece sewn together on three sides. But you could just pick up some inexpensive bags. Then I added a strip of ribbon with balloons attached to look like chem-balls. I just tied the balloons to the ribbon.

Big Hero 6 is a great family movie! Children of all ages will enjoy it. Hurry over to Walmart to get your own DVD and Blue Ray. Your purchase of the Big Hero 6 Blu-Ray/DVD + Gift With Purchase Set includes a digital movie on Vudu while supplies last! Simply scan your receipt using the Savings Catcher in the Walmart app. Then look for a message on your phone or email. Now you can watch Big Hero 6 on any device! You can also buy toys, books, and other Big Hero 6 movie merchandise online at walmart.com. I have a family of readers so we bought a book called, “Big Hero 6, the junior novelization.” It has already been read because my kids can’t get enough of Hiro, Baymax, Fred, Wasabe, Honey Lemon, and Go Go Tomago.

Schedule your family movie night soon! Don’t forget the popcorn and make some Baymax Cupcakes!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/big-hero-6-movie-watching-party/feed/15Easy Silhouette Project: Easter Bunny Basketshttp://madamedeals.com/easy-silhouette-project-easter-bunny-baskets/
http://madamedeals.com/easy-silhouette-project-easter-bunny-baskets/#respondMon, 02 Mar 2015 01:00:55 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521964Easy Silhouette Project DIY Easter Bunny Baskets Happy almost spring everyone! Here in Tennessee we have our first thunderstorm warning which can only mean one thing, spring is almost here! Springtime is probably my favorite time of the year. The flowers start to bloom, it’s warm without being super hot, and we get to step...

DIY Easter Bunny Baskets

Happy almost spring everyone! Here in Tennessee we have our first thunderstorm warning which can only mean one thing, spring is almost here! Springtime is probably my favorite time of the year. The flowers start to bloom, it’s warm without being super hot, and we get to step out into the sunshine (almost) all the time. Perfect!

Easter is one of the best spring holidays and one I really love to craft for. All the pretty colors, bunnies, chicks, eggs, and a great message, if you into that ;).

Recently, I received a Silhouette Cutting Machineand it has quickly become my favorite crafting tool ever. This thing can help you make homemade cards, custom shirts, banners, wall art and more. SO when it was time to start thinking about Easter Crafts I knew I had to make something awesome with my Silhouette.

My daughter LOVES Peeps, so I thought it would be cute to make her a Peeps themed DIY Easter Bunny Baskets! I made a simple SVG file (that I’m going to be sharing with you!) and grabbed this really cute Easter bucket from the dollar tree and got to work! If you already have a Silhouette cutting machine and know how to work it, you know how easy this project is, and if you haven’t used yours yet keep reading and I’ll show you how easy it is!

Here is how to make this easy DIY Easter Bunny Baskets:

First, you gotta cut out that design! You will be using 2 different colors of vinyl. I used Yellow for the Peeps and White for the dots.

Next, It’s time to “weed” that design. If you haven’t heard of weeding before, it just means that you will be taking out all the unnecessary parts of the design. (I.E the middle of letters).

Then, once you have weeded your design you will need some transfer paper. You will add your transfer paper on top of your design and then smooth it down to make sure it is on there well. (You can use a credit card for this!)

Next, You will peel the design off the backing and add it to your bucket. Make sure you have no bubbling areas by using a card to smooth your design on to your bucket.

Finally, you will add your dots! I personally don’t use transfer paper for my dots, I just peel and stick em’ where I want them. It’s easy and it doesn’t waste transfer paper. Do make sure you press them on firmly though, so they don’t peel around the edges!

And that’s it! After about 20 minutes of work you have a super cute and custom Easter Basket your kids are sure to love! How easy is that right!?

]]>http://madamedeals.com/easy-silhouette-project-easter-bunny-baskets/feed/0Still Smiling because of Listerine® Mouthwash Benefitshttp://madamedeals.com/mouthwash-benefits/
http://madamedeals.com/mouthwash-benefits/#commentsSun, 01 Mar 2015 21:00:09 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521753Disclosure: “I received LISTERINE® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® 21-Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.” A little over 3 weeks ago I signed up for the LISTERINE®...

]]>Disclosure: “I received LISTERINE® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® 21-Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.”

A little over 3 weeks ago I signed up for the LISTERINE® 21-Day Challenge. The challenge was to start rinsing with Listerine mouthwash twice a day. Ok so it has been 21 days. I have to admit I did miss a few rinses while we were travelling but other than that I did great! One thing that really helped was having the fresh clean mouth feeling all day. I have been converted. I am now a huge fan of mouthwash. Before the challenge I randomly used mouthwash, now it feels strange if I don’t. I hope you joined me in the 21-day challenge. If not and you are still not convinced that using mouthwash regularly is necessary than please read my list of mouthwash benefits.

Mouthwash Benefits:

fresh breath

cavity protection

whiter teeth

healthier gums

less plaque and fewer germs in mouth – Listerine kills up to 99.9% of germs in your mouth

smoother cleaner teeth

This last one is really one of the best mouthwash benefits for me. Smoother cleaner teeth. You can actually feel it when you run your tongue across your teeth. My six month cleaning at the dentist is coming up in a few weeks. I can always tell when it is getting close to my appt because my teeth feel yucky. They get filmy quicker, food seems to stick more, and they don’t feel smooth or clean for very long between brushings. But since I have been rinsing twice a day that hasn’t happened this time. It feels like I just got my teeth cleaned.

Mouthwash Benefits for kids:

Okay so how did the kids do with the challenge? Better than I expected. Before the challenge we struggled to stick with a morning teeth brushing routine. Nighttime has never been an issue in our house but remembering in the morning when we are all busy and maybe a little grumpy is a different story. We started using LISTERINE SMART RINSE® and our “Did you Brush Your Teeth Today?”checklist we shared and we had much better results. The kids love squeezing the bottle to measure the right amount of mouthwash and pouring it into their cups. I love that this little bit of fun has encouraged them to brush and rinse. I also love that I don’t have to worry about spills or waste.

To help us all keep going with our new habit of rinsing morning and night I am going to head to Walgreens this week and stock up. During the week of March 1st, visit your local Walgreens store to purchase LISTERINE® Antiseptic for only $4.49; a great price to help keep you going with your new rinsing habit! If you haven’t taken the challenge you can go grab all the products you need to get started. In addition to the mouthwash we have also really liked the LISTERINE® WHITENING Original Gel Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste. We love the taste. I also have a free printable that you can hang in your bathroom as a reminder to keep you motivated to stick with your new habit. 6 Steps for Proper Oral Hygiene Printable.

Oh and my other healthy habit? I did not forget about that. Remember I chose the fitness expert for help staying motivated to train for a 10k run. Well, I made it to the gym 3 times a week every week for the past 3 weeks! Thank you LISTERINE® 21-Day Challenge!

So tell us, how did you do? If you did not join us you can still sign up for the LISTERINE® 21-Day Challenge and be on your way to a healthier mouth and happier you.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/mouthwash-benefits/feed/13How to Manage Food Budget for Family?http://madamedeals.com/manage-food-budget-family/
http://madamedeals.com/manage-food-budget-family/#respondSat, 28 Feb 2015 13:57:14 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521930One of the keys to successfully running a household for under $30,000 a year is managing your food budget. The way to make your food budget stretch is to use a few really helpful tips… How to Manage Food Budget for Family? 1) Coupons. You may think couponing is hard, or time consuming, or extreme,...

One of the keys to successfully running a household for under $30,000 a year is managing your food budget. The way to make your food budget stretch is to use a few really helpful tips…

How to Manage Food Budget for Family?

1) Coupons. You may think couponing is hard, or time consuming, or extreme, but in this day and age with couponing being main stream there is no excuse to great to ignore savings like that. Especially staple items that are regularly in couponing cycles (which are approximately every 6 weeks).

2) Make stocks and seasonings in bulk. When you are cooking food that could be considered simple and uncomplicated, flavor is important. Quinoa is a staple side from most of our dinners. It’s healthy and provides a lot of protein. Throughout the week when ever I use fresh vegetables I tend to keep a little bit of each vegetable and put it into a Ziploc freezer bag. Over the weekend, I boil all of the vegetables in a pot with water and turn it into vegetable stock. I then take the strained liquid and put it into ice cube trays and freeze it into cubes. Those cubes then go into the Ziploc bag. Throughout the week whatever I make quinoa I always throw a cube or two of vegetable stock in to flavor it. Other stock that I usually make with leftovers is chicken stock. Sometimes I will buy a rotisserie chicken on the weekend and use it for several dishes during the week. Then I will boil the bones down into chicken stock/bone broth. I also freeze the broth into ice cubes. Fresh herbs also freeze well into ice cubes with water. It is a way to be able to quickly add flavor to many dishes.

3) When trying to make food dollars stretch, one of the things that tends to get trimmed out by budget is nutritional value. Cutting out nutritional value due to budget is never acceptable. Do you know what will cut into your budget? Ill health. An easy and affordable way to add extra nutritional value is to purée vegetables in advance add them into recipes in spoonfuls. If short on time, a way to cut a corner would be to use baby food. I know it sounds crazy, but it is quality food and usually mixes easily into most recipes. Also, soup and salad is a great way to eat healthy on a small budget and keep up with your health. Mason jar salads are easy to prep in advance and crockpot chili can hide a multitude of nutrition.

Do you have tips on how to manage food budget for family? Share it with us below.

Angie Rumpf

I am a stay at home mom and happily married to my husband Tom. I have a five year old daughter and a two and a half year old son. I grew up in Orlando, but went to school in New York City and lived in Los Angeles before moving home to raise a family. I have worked in the film industry since the early nineties, and for over a decade with the Florida Film Festival. I also spent many years working in marketing with Glaceau and Honest Tea. But, I am happiest at home building my family.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/manage-food-budget-family/feed/0How to Dress Thinner?http://madamedeals.com/how-to-dress-thinner/
http://madamedeals.com/how-to-dress-thinner/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 13:00:57 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520579How to Dress Thinner? Choose clothes that make you thinner! Are there Clothes that make you thinner? What if I told you there are. I believe that part of taking control of your health by eating right and exercising is to buy new clothes as you reshape your body. I always hear women say when I...

How to Dress Thinner?

Choose clothes that make you thinner!

Are there Clothes that make you thinner? What if I told you there are. I believe that part of taking control of your health by eating right and exercising is to buy new clothes as you reshape your body. I always hear women say when I get “Thinner” I will buy myself something new. I always wonder why. If you worked hard to lose ten pound why wear jeans that are lose or shirts that are now baggy? Why not find clothes that fit and show off your shape. I would like to thank Kohl’s for allowing me to shop for Karla as she becomes the best version of herself and through the journey as she gets there. We have shopped at Kohl’s a couple times now because they have fashionable clothes for women of every size and shape and we believe in celebrating our accomplishments!

Clothes that make you thinner

So what’s the secret on how to dress thinner? I truly believe that taking care of yourself as you journey toward a new lifestyle is not only important but it is the key to getting “thinner”. You see if you keep the clothes that you used to wear and you do not buy some new clothes you are more likely to go back to your old habit. The first thing I did when Karla decided to make healthy decisions in regards to her health was to support her. I encouraged her daily and celebrated her milestones because I cared about her moral and I knew she needed a cheerleader. Karla only ever wore black, grey, and navy in fact I had never seen her is anything cheerful. It was like she was trapped in despair. She was hiding from the world and trying to blend in. I decided enough was enough, why hide yourself? How about we celebrate where she is in her journey. We did that by shopping at Kohl’s for everything she needs. The first trip we started with fashionable clothes in size 24 and 22 and a year and a couple months later we are at XL and 16. Karla eats healthy and can kick my butt at the gym. I love the prices at Kohl’s and the selection. I was able to make Karla several outfits and save money at the same time. She no longer hides behind her prison of black, grey, and navy. She also now knows that everyday you are alive and healthy is a victory and every victory deserves a great dress. I truly believe buying new clothes as you move towards the journey of your best self not only helps you continue your journey but it allows you to see your progress and appreciate your hard work. It isn’t about your size or your weight but dress well is about having the confidence to believe in yourself. You are beautiful and you deserve to look great. I highly suggest you reward your gains. I was able to create a wardrobe for Karla for $256.18 and she looks awesome. The clothes will look great as she continues to her goal. They are of wonderful quality and when they no longer fit she can consign them. It is a small price to pay to feel good about yourself. They say you must dress for success and I believe that holds true as you journey towards the best version of yourself. I would like to thank Karla for sharing her journey and remind you that she used to get breathless walking up my drive way and now she is running 4 miles! Bravo!

These are my tips for finding clothes that make you look thinner:

Try on everything

Bring in a size up and a size down from your normal size who cares what the number says it is the fit that counts

Patterns are best on top

Find a shape that works for your shape and look for it in shirts and a dress

Buy the proper undergarments

Wear color

Take a friend that has a better fashion sense then yours

Do not look at the price tag to determine if it is the right item for you. I would rather you buy one wow item then 5 okay items. You can make multiple outfits with different tops or bottoms and jewelry

Determine what your assets are and dress those. I have nice legs and my boobs aren’t big so I wear something cool at the top that adds volume and then I wear something that shows my legs. This is me in my holiday fashion tips.

Confidence have confidence. Karla looks so great because she feels great about herself.

I am Spanx girl I love mine and they are worth the money. Yes, I am thin but clothes never lay right on real people so a little help tightening those areas is a great idea.

Here are just some of the brands of clothes that I bought to build a wardrobe for Karla:

Do you have tips on How to Dress Thinner? Share it with us below

]]>http://madamedeals.com/how-to-dress-thinner/feed/2List of Dr Seuss Books: National Read Across America Dayhttp://madamedeals.com/list-dr-seuss-books-national-read-across-america-day/
http://madamedeals.com/list-dr-seuss-books-national-read-across-america-day/#respondFri, 27 Feb 2015 01:03:12 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521783List of Dr Seuss Books March 2 is Dr Seuss Day – National Read Across America Day Did you know that March 2nd is the birthday of Dr. Seuss? It is also National Read Across America Day! On Read Across America Day or also known as Dr. Seuss Day, all across the United States, we celebrate...

March 2 is Dr Seuss Day – National Read Across America Day

Did you know that March 2nd is the birthday of Dr. Seuss? It is also National Read Across America Day! On Read Across America Day or also known as Dr. Seuss Day, all across the United States, we celebrate our love for reading and help to get others into reading too.

I have always been an avid reader, but getting my son to love reading has been a chore. He just wasn’t that into it. I started introducing him to books that are about baseball, which is his favorite sport. This helped him to enjoy reading more and he even started to read on his own without me having to tell him to. If your kids aren’t book lovers yet, take it slow and let them choose from a large variety of genres and topics that they are into. You will have a better chance of them finding something that they will really love this way.

Many communities also celebrate Read Across America Day with special events at schools, parks or churches. Look into what your child’s school does to celebrate and find out how you can be a part of the event. If your neighborhood has a local Community Center, they may be hosting an event to celebrate as well. Get out there and celebrate your love of books! In the meantime, here are 10 of my favorite Dr. Seuss books. I love them because they stand the test of time, generation after generation and never get old. What are some of your favorite Dr. Seuss books?

]]>http://madamedeals.com/list-dr-seuss-books-national-read-across-america-day/feed/0Feta Balsamic Pita Sandwich Recipehttp://madamedeals.com/feta-balsamic-pita-sandwich-recipe/
http://madamedeals.com/feta-balsamic-pita-sandwich-recipe/#respondThu, 26 Feb 2015 04:03:12 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521379Pita Sandwich Recipe One of the secret to losing weight or maintaining weight is for one to choose to eat the right kind of food. You don’t have to starve yourself or try to shove cardboard tasting food if you know how to prepare tasty and healthy recipes like this Feta Balsamic Pita Sandwich Recipe....

One of the secret to losing weight or maintaining weight is for one to choose to eat the right kind of food. You don’t have to starve yourself or try to shove cardboard tasting food if you know how to prepare tasty and healthy recipes like this Feta Balsamic Pita Sandwich Recipe. This recipe is perfect for weight watchers.

Standard white pita is 2 points, 1/2 cup of feta is 5 pts and 1/2 light balsamic vinegratte is 0 pts. All of those veggies are 0. If you make 5 pitas with these ingredients it would be 3 points per pita!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/feta-balsamic-pita-sandwich-recipe/feed/0Best Lotion for Dry Skin in Winterhttp://madamedeals.com/best-lotion-for-dry-skin-in-winter/
http://madamedeals.com/best-lotion-for-dry-skin-in-winter/#respondWed, 25 Feb 2015 12:50:14 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521027Pampered? Well maybe just a little… With the best lotion for dry skin! At Real Advice Gal, we have been talking a lot about the power of touch and using touch to show love to our spouses as a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and each other. Continuing with that message I wanted to share...

]]>Pampered? Well maybe just a little… With the best lotion for dry skin!

At Real Advice Gal, we have been talking a lot about the power of touch and using touch to show love to our spouses as a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and each other. Continuing with that message I wanted to share two things that my husband always does for me daily that make me feel special and loved. In the evenings, after the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, and the house is straightened up, we usually sit down to relax and watch a little tv. And almost every evening for the past 12 years my husband has rubbed my feet. That’s right, I get a foot rub almost every night. Pampered? Yes! Deserved? Yes! Loved? Most definitely! In the winter months this year I have even gotten a little extra pampering with new Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Healing Serum, the best lotion for dry skin in winter.

Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Healing Serum, is a new range of skin care that brings the power of highly concentrated, healing ingredients to Vaseline’s first ever moisturizing body care serum. For my feet I need the Deep Repair formula because it is for deep moisturizing to heal rough cracked skin. I don’t know about you but my heels can get really dry and cracked in the winter. As springtime approaches, I want my feet to be sandal ready, no cracks or rough looking skin. So I am having my sweet husband lotion my feet every night during my foot rub. I got my husband the Advances Relief healing serum that moisturizes to heal and calm severely dry skin. He battles with eczema throughout the year and really needs best lotion for dry skin in winter. I have to take care of the hands that rub my feet, right? There is a third repair serum, Radiance Restore which moisturizes to heal and restore radiance to dry, dull skin that I will use in the summer when more of my skin will be exposed and I want it to look radiant. No matter what time of year, all Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Healing Serums can be used daily all over body and are available at food drug and mass retailers nationwide for $7.99. Take good care of your skin because touch is such a powerful way to share your love.

Oh and the second thing I want to share with you that happens almost every night that makes me feel special and loved is our goodnight ritual. Every night my husband says “Goodnight”. I respond with “goodnight” and then he says “Sleep well” and I say “In your arms.” Then I snuggle up and fall asleep in his arms. I know these words are simple but they were whispered so gently and sincerely when we were first married and the fact that they have been whispered almost every night for the past 12 years makes them even more special.

We don’t need a holiday to show our love, love someone today with a small gesture because those are the ones that mean so much. Give some Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Healing Serum to your loved ones and yourself because everyone’s skin can use a little extra love and lotion for dry skin in winter.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/best-lotion-for-dry-skin-in-winter/feed/0Mexican Monkey Bread Easy Recipehttp://madamedeals.com/mexican-monkey-bread-easy-recipe/
http://madamedeals.com/mexican-monkey-bread-easy-recipe/#respondTue, 24 Feb 2015 23:00:05 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521486Mexican Monkey Bread Easy Recipe The weather is still pretty frigid down here in Tennessee and so that means I like cooking warm meals that will keep us from shivering ha! We have been under ice and snow all week and no one has been able to leave for work and school so I have...

The weather is still pretty frigid down here in Tennessee and so that means I like cooking warm meals that will keep us from shivering ha! We have been under ice and snow all week and no one has been able to leave for work and school so I have been cooking a lot more than normal. I wanted to make something that was big enough for all of us, didn’t require a lot of clean up, and that everyone would love. In my house that means something spicy, cheesy, and fast. The solution? My Mexican Monkey Bread Easy Recipe! Now, most Monkey Bread Recipes are sweet but every now and then you need a savory dish right!? This recipe takes about 5 minutes to prepare and about 1/2 an hour to cook. That’s it! Would you like to learn how to make it? Let’s check it out!

Here is how to make my Mexican Monkey Bread Easy Recipe:

You Will Need:

2 cans Biscuits

2 Cups Mexican Shredded Cheese

1 can Green Chilies

2 tbsp Cilantro

Optional: Sliced Jalapenos

1 Stick Butter

First, in a bowl combine your shredded cheese, chilies, cilantro, and 1 stick of melted butter together and stir to mix. Quarter your biscuits and toss them in with your mix and gently toss to mix.

Next, In a bundt pan pour your mix in and pat down to even out. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

I love serving this yummy Mexican Monkey Bread with tacos, soup, or even chili! It’s just the right amount of cheesy and spicy, and has quickly become a family favorite. If you have a smaller crowd to feed you can cut this recipe in 1/2 to serve 1-3 people!

Looking for some more yummy Monkey Bread Easy Recipes? Check these out:

]]>http://madamedeals.com/mexican-monkey-bread-easy-recipe/feed/0FeverAll® Fever Readyhttp://madamedeals.com/feverall-fever-ready/
http://madamedeals.com/feverall-fever-ready/#respondTue, 24 Feb 2015 11:00:15 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520232Anytime my child gets sick all we want to do as a parent and make it better as soon as possible. When my daughter gets a fever either from her shots, from teething or just from catching a bug, I tract her temperature every 15 minutes because they can spike very quickly! My go to...

Anytime my child gets sick all we want to do as a parent and make it better as soon as possible. When my daughter gets a fever either from her shots, from teething or just from catching a bug, I tract her temperature every 15 minutes because they can spike very quickly! My go to medicine choice to bring her fever down and keep it down is FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Acetaminophen Suppositories.

FeverAll®? Infants’ Strength Suppositories (80 mg of acetaminophen) is the only acetaminophen product available with dosage instructions for children as young as six months of age. Acetaminophen is one of the most recommended non-prescription medications by healthcare professionals – including pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners – for temporary fever reduction and relief of minor aches and pain in infants and children. FeverAll®? is the only national brand of acetaminophen in suppository form and is available in three strengths for children from 6 months to 12 years of age. These suppositories make sure that I am giving my daughter the proper dose.

As a new mom I wasn’t sure when to give her medicine or when a fever was too high. FeverAll made it very clear as well when to give my daughter medicine. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, fever in babies begins at 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, call your physician about any concerns with fever in your child. Using a digital rectal thermometer will provide the most accurate reading of a baby’s temperature. When my daughter was first born we had her wrapped up in her new soft blanket and my dad was holding her very close, as he should being a grandpa for the first time. When the doctor came in to check on all of us the doctor said she felt very warm. Just because she was warm didn’t mean she had a fever. You can overdress a baby as well, even in colder weather. Always double check with a rectal thermometer to make sure it accurate! Watch FeverAll® Hot Topic: What is the best way to take a baby’s temperature? to know more on why and how you should use rectal thermometer.

I also learned quickly to not freak out with every fever too. A fever just means the body is fighting off an infection. My daughter usually gets a very low grade fever when her teeth start coming through. If your little one is less then six month old please contact your pediatrician if you have any questions! But stock up on FeverAll either at Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens and several other fine retailers.

Enter the FeverAll® Fever Ready Giveaway for your chance to win a $250 retailer gift card and a FeverAll® Fever Ready Prize Pack. Seventy-five additional winners will receive the FeverAll® Fever Ready Prize Pack which includes a box of FeverAll® Infant’s Strength Suppositories, a digital thermometer and a dry-erase decal that caregivers can use to post and share their children’s emergency medical contacts and important health information. Winners chosen on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. ET. “Like” FeverAll on Facebook to get the latest coupons and offers.

Use FeverAll® only as directed. If you have specific questions about fever, acetaminophen or using FeverAll®, speak with your child’s pediatrician. FeverAll® is available at major retailers and drugstores across the U.S, such as Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens. For more information and to print the current coupon offer, visit www.FeverAll.com.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories. The opinions and text are all mine.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/feverall-fever-ready/feed/0Help Provide Safe Birth with Kanguhttp://madamedeals.com/help-provide-safe-birth-with-kangu/
http://madamedeals.com/help-provide-safe-birth-with-kangu/#respondTue, 24 Feb 2015 00:39:55 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519839Disclosure: “I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central and Kangu. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.” Kangu for Safe Pregnancies Overseas Pregnancy and childbirth is a milestone in a woman’s life. In spite of the physiological & physical transformation of a woman’s body and how hard...

]]>Disclosure: “I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central and Kangu. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

Kangu for Safe Pregnancies Overseas

Pregnancy and childbirth is a milestone in a woman’s life. In spite of the physiological & physical transformation of a woman’s body and how hard motherhood is, the joy of having a child is immeasurable. That’s why as much as possible, pregnancy and childbirth should be safe, comfortable and bearable as possible for a woman. Unfortunately not all women in the world have access to safe pregnancy and childbirth. According to studies, every day 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries. This makes maternal death as one of the second leading cause of death among of women of reproductive age (15 – 44) worldwide. The statistics is really scary but true, a lot of women in developing countries doesn’t have access to services that many of us take for granted, including: access to quality pre- and post-natal medical care, support of skilled healthcare professionals during labor, and a clean and safe birthing environment. Kangu wants to change these statistics. Kangu is a non-profit organization with a big dream: that every woman in the world has a safe birth.

I remember the fear and anxiety that I experienced when I was pregnant. Thinking whether my child is healthy or if the changes I’m experiencing are normal. Good thing because I had great doctors and nurses to consult to, I had access to great prenatal care, vitamins and supplements and I gave birth in a clean high-tech hospital with also great postpartum care. These comforts however are not available for other women in some parts of the world. It breaks my heart to think of the hardship that they have to go through, that’s why I’m glad to be part of the campaign to let more people know about Kangu.

Kangu’s crowdfunding platform is designed to help put an end to preventable maternal and newborn deaths by enabling donors to support life-saving health services for pregnant women and their babies in need, globally. “Safe birth” services refer to healthcare services (before, during and after delivery) that have been proven to save the lives of mamas and their newborn babies.

If you haven’t heard of “Crowdfunding” before, it refers to technology that enables individuals to come together as a community. With this platform we can jointly raise money for something we all believe in.

Donating to Kangu is super easy. Just simply go to www.kangu.org, there you can search profiles of pregnant women in need and contribute towards eliminating the financial barrier for a specific woman to access high-quality healthcare before, during and after childbirth. These services, provided by vetted local medical partners, are proven to reduce maternal and newborn deaths by up to 80%.

Every dollar counts in providing these women the help they need. I encourage all of you to please take some time to look at Kangu and share whatever you can.

At Kangu you can also give the gift of safe birth in honor of your loved one. Your loved one will receive a personalized card after your gifting donation, as well as a birth update—complete with a picture of a mama and baby—after the selected mama has safely delivered.

Win one of five $100 donations that Kangu will make to a Kangu Mom on your behalf.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/help-provide-safe-birth-with-kangu/feed/0Karla’s Korner – Being Vulnerable: Living with Our Hearts Wide Openhttp://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-vulnerable-living-hearts-wide-open/
http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-vulnerable-living-hearts-wide-open/#respondMon, 23 Feb 2015 12:45:22 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521438Being Vulnerable: Living with our hearts wide open This week it seemed as if my inbox, social media newsfeed and conversations were filled with the idea that vulnerability is a good thing. As much as I tried to shove this topic aside, I finally gave in and took a dive deep into thought, prayer, conversation...

Being Vulnerable: Living with our hearts wide open

This week it seemed as if my inbox, social media newsfeed and conversations were filled with the idea that vulnerability is a good thing. As much as I tried to shove this topic aside, I finally gave in and took a dive deep into thought, prayer, conversation and little online research. What I found was a wealth of information that not only clarified but solidified the idea that vulnerability, while complex is a necessary element of life. I believe that vulnerability is one of the richest, most deep rooted, soul awakening things we can embrace.

The word vulnerable is of Latin origin coming from the root word vulnus which means “wound”. According to several online dictionaries it is defined from its literal meaning and is more often used for someone who is easily hurt or likely to succumb to temptation. It’s also used to describe a person whose feelings are delicate that they cannot handle criticism or pressure. There is a sense of guilt, shame and fear associated with vulnerability.

American scholar, author, and public speaker Dr. Brené Brown has spent many years researching human connection and our ability to empathize, belong and love. In June 2010 Dr. Brown spoke in Houston at a TED Talk titled “The Power of Vulnerability” where she shared that “the core of vulnerability is shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness, but it appears that it is also the birth place of joy and creativity.” With a deep desire to understand I found myself re-playing her talk several times, stopping to take notes, to think and let her ideas settle in my mind. Dr. Brown was conveying a message that up until now made no sense to me. Isn’t it better to build a wall around ourselves that doesn’t allow hurt, hate and heart ache in? Isn’t it wise to protect ourselves from those who inflict negativity and pain in our lives? Wouldn’t we be better off if we locked up our hearts and kept them safe and less vulnerable? For me the answer is “no” by hiding behind a wall, isolating ourselves in order to remain safe we will miss out on so much joy, love and happiness. We will miss out on the life we are intended to live.

According to Dr. Brown one of the most frequent methods of dealing with vulnerability is numbing ourselves; we build walls around our hearts to lock out the hurt. When we do this we also lock out joy, gratitude, happiness and love. Contemporary Japanese writer Haruki Murakami wrote “What happens when people open their hearts? “They get better.” Allowing ourselves complete vulnerability will I believe provide us with the opportunity to have a greater sense of joy, great happiness and a love so deep that it fills in the cracks caused by hurt and sadness. You see, by exposing ourselves to the tough stuff, the hurtful stuff we are able to appreciate the good stuff and develop a great sense of inner peace, a deeper love and gratitude. We will find ourselves grateful for the difficulties because we will learn from them.

Keeping in mind that there are no guarantees and that hurt, heart ache and disappointment are inevitable it is necessary to go through the storms of life in order to see the rainbow on the other side. I was once asked if I had any regrets about my past including relationships, jobs, life decisions. While I find myself wondering “what if” once in a while regarding the past I realize that in order for me to be the person I am today I had to go through the tough stuff. In order to have a heart that loves and accepts the indifferences in life it is necessary to face challenges that cause us to question our faith, beliefs and values. Because of those challenges and difficult decisions I experienced I am able to appreciate the journey, learn important life lessons and develop deep meaningful loving relationships that not only bring me great joy but gives joy to others as well. Embracing vulnerability requires faith that even though sometimes the results will be difficult to endure living our life with our hearts wide open will allow space for deep love, great joy and gratefulness for the experiences.

Brazilian lyricist and novelist Paulo Coelho wrote “The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility.” To love and be loved completely requires a willingness to take chances, to give and not expect anything in return and to appreciate the vulnerability it requires to do it. I believe it is necessary to embrace vulnerability because it is where you will ultimately find your strength. Open yourself up to the scary stuff, the stuff that requires you to trust and be trusted. It’s difficult yet simple; be present, be brave, be joyful, be grateful and above all be vulnerable.

Peace, Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-vulnerable-living-hearts-wide-open/feed/0Eye Eraser – Anti-Aging Infusion Systemhttp://madamedeals.com/eye-eraser-anti-aging-infusion-system/
http://madamedeals.com/eye-eraser-anti-aging-infusion-system/#respondSun, 22 Feb 2015 11:51:29 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520377Disclosure: Product and/or other compensation by Micheal Todd USA was provided to facilitate this review. All opinions and images are my own. Okay, if I had to pinpoint one area of my face that I dislike the most I would have to say the dark circles and bags under my eyes. I have used all sorts...

]]>Disclosure: Product and/or other compensation by Micheal Todd USA was provided to facilitate this review. All opinions and images are my own.

Okay, if I had to pinpoint one area of my face that I dislike the most I would have to say the dark circles and bags under my eyes. I have used all sorts of concealers and eye creams throughout my lifetime. While I have found some products that help by hiding or temporarily minimizing the puffiness I continue to have a problem. To make matters worse I am now seeing the beginnings of fine lines and wrinkles aka crow’s feet at the corners of my eyes. I have also noticed wrinkles near my mouth what I refer to as “commas” because they look like a comma. I guess most people call them laugh lines. Like my stretchmarks I don’t get too upset by these wrinkles because I know that they are a sign of a happy life full of laughter and smiling eyes. However, if I can do something to make me feel better about the appearance of these markers of happiness, something that makes me feel more beautiful than of course I am going to. Who doesn’t want to feel more beautiful. I thought I would share with you the naked truth in the photo below.

When I find a product that I like, especially one that makes me feel good about myself I like to tell every women I know. I want all the wonderful women in my life to feel beautiful too. So I want to share a fabulous new product I am using with all of you. It may sound a tad dramatic but I have fallen in love with the Eye Eraser by Michael Todd USA. The Eye Eraser can actually be used on your entire face and neck. I started using it on all of the sensitive areas around my eyes and also on those pesky laugh lines at the corners of my mouth. The Eye Eraser feels so good that I just kept going and used it on my entire face.

What is an Eye Eraser and what does it do?

The Eye Eraser is an infuser. First you put on lotion or eye cream. Then use the Eye Eraser to help your skin better absorb the cream. It gently massages using sonic, ionic, and thermal technology. The massage feels great and as you use it it gently warms the skin. Both the massage and warmth help your skin absorb the skin cream or lotion better than applying lotion alone. The massage also helps stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which makes your skin look and feel firmer. I used the Michael Todd Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment with the Eye Eraser. It felt great and left my skin so soft.

Tip: Remember that the skin under and around your eyes is sensitive and delicate. Use your middle or ring finger to gently apply eye cream with a light tapping motion to prevent damaging the tissue. The Michael Todd Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment has an applicator that is gentle on your eye tissue.

I love the feeling I get from caring for my face and using great beauty products like these from Michael Todd USA. Having a “spa” moment every morning helps boost my confidence because I feel beautiful and I know I am taking great care of my skin. Do you use an infuser as part of your skin care routine? Real Advice Gal readers can get 20% off their entire purchase. Order your Eye Eraser today so you can enjoy taking care of your skin and keep smiling and making happy memories knowing they are not getting etched onto your face.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/eye-eraser-anti-aging-infusion-system/feed/0How to Use Your Tax Refund to Build Wealthhttp://madamedeals.com/use-tax-refund-build-wealth/
http://madamedeals.com/use-tax-refund-build-wealth/#respondSat, 21 Feb 2015 13:02:01 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521239Using Tax Refund to Build Wealth How to use your tax refund to build wealth… If you just got a tax refund and you have been living lean in an effort to get ahead (or simply stay afloat) your first instinct may be to splurge… But, remember when I mentioned the lottery and all of...

How to use your tax refund to build wealth…

If you just got a tax refund and you have been living lean in an effort to get ahead (or simply stay afloat) your first instinct may be to splurge… But, remember when I mentioned the lottery and all of those financial talks? When people first get a large sum of money the first thing they want to do is SPEND. A smart person knows that the first thing you do is stop and THINK. How to build wealth? How can you maximize this money? How can you grow this money? How can you make this money work FOR you? Whether it is $100 or $10,000 the first thing you need to do is make sure that you know where the money that you owe that isn’t yours is at.

If you are paying interest on it, then it is like leaving your front door open with the air conditioner running on high. Pay those cards off!! Your money will not do you any good in savings if you are paying interest on credit cards. It may feel better to have a “cushion” in the bank, but if it’s just going to be eaten up in interest payments then it’s a false cushion. Why not think of your credit card as your cushion? Credit cards are supposed to be for “in case of emergency”. You can never get ahead if you are paying the bank instead of being the bank.

An out-of-the-box idea on how to maximize your refund would be to take a day off of work to get your money in order. Is money leaking out of your budget by paying high interest on credit cards? Maybe you should spend a day calling around to find a low interest credit card that you could do a balance transfer with. Do you spend a lot of money eating out because you don’t have time to cook? What about spending the day doing meal planning and prepping so that you can save money on going out? What about your other expenses like insurance? One of the things you could do is spend time really looking at some of the money going out and finding ways to lower it. That is something that often takes time that you do not have. If you were to use your refund to pay for a day off of work then you could find that long-term you end up saving quite a bit of money off of a small investment of time.

Angie Rumpf

I am a stay at home mom and happily married to my husband Tom. I have a five year old daughter and a two and a half year old son. I grew up in Orlando, but went to school in New York City and lived in Los Angeles before moving home to raise a family. I have worked in the film industry since the early nineties, and for over a decade with the Florida Film Festival. I also spent many years working in marketing with Glaceau and Honest Tea. But, I am happiest at home building my family.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/use-tax-refund-build-wealth/feed/012 Fun St Patricks Day Kids Craftshttp://madamedeals.com/12-fun-st-patricks-day-kids-crafts/
http://madamedeals.com/12-fun-st-patricks-day-kids-crafts/#commentsSat, 21 Feb 2015 11:00:11 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=52113112 Fun St Patricks Day Kids Crafts Now that February is coming to a close it’s time to welcome spring and the next upcoming holiday, St.Patrick’s Day! St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays because my favorite color is green! And I’m also 1/4 Irish so it’s fun to celebrate my ancestors history. I love...

Now that February is coming to a close it’s time to welcome spring and the next upcoming holiday, St.Patrick’s Day! St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays because my favorite color is green! And I’m also 1/4 Irish so it’s fun to celebrate my ancestors history.

I love doing crafts for any reason, but I would have to say that holiday crafts are my favorite. My daughter has inherited my love for crafts and it’s one of our favorite activities to do together. So I searched the internet to find some fun St Patricks Day Kids Crafts that I could do with my daughter and share with you guys! Let’s check them out!

Here are 12 fun St Patricks Day Kids Crafts:

1. Paper Irish Dancer Craft- I took Irish Step Dancing when I was a kid so I love this cute paper craft that is oh-so-cute and festive

2. DIY Lucky Shamrock Sprouts- This is a fun craft and it’s educational. With this craft from yours truly you can grow your own shamrocks at home!

3. DIY Ombre Dyed Shamrock Pillow- This pillow is so simple and cute. It would be perfect for older kids and it would look great on your couch all month long!

4. DIY St.Patrick’s Day Shirt- This simple yet adorable craft that you can wear when you are done making it is glittery and full of Irish cheer!

5. Rainbow Tissue Paper Pom Poms- We all know that you find gold at the end of a rainbow right!? So there must be something good at the end of this rainbow craft!

6. Shamrock Suncatcher Craft- This craft is perfect for little hands and will look great hanging in your windows catching some sun.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/12-fun-st-patricks-day-kids-crafts/feed/1BeActiv with Viactiv® Calcium Chewshttp://madamedeals.com/beactiv-viactiv-calcium-chews/
http://madamedeals.com/beactiv-viactiv-calcium-chews/#respondFri, 20 Feb 2015 12:42:39 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521092As part of my lifestyle transformation I have incorporated healthy eating and daily exercise into my daily routine. One thing I have struggled with is incorporating enough calcium in my daily diet. Swallowing calcium pills can often be difficult so when the opportunity to try Viactiv® Calcium Plus dietary supplements I took it. Viactiv® Calcium...

As part of my lifestyle transformation I have incorporated healthy eating and daily exercise into my daily routine. One thing I have struggled with is incorporating enough calcium in my daily diet. Swallowing calcium pills can often be difficult so when the opportunity to try Viactiv® Calcium Plus dietary supplements I took it. Viactiv® Calcium Plus dietary supplements are individually wrapped soft chews and come in milk chocolate, caramel and sugar-free milk chocolate flavors. Viactiv®? gummies (available only at Walgreens) come in assorted tropical flavors and are dairy and gluten free; a great option for those with gluten or dairy restrictions. By taking one Viactiv® soft chew twice a day you will receive 100% of the daily value of calcium for most women plus the benefits of vitamins D & K. Viactiv® soft chews provide a great supplement when foods you consume do not provide enough calcium while the Vitamin D found in the Viactiv®? gummies further supports the absorption of calcium into your body. The gummies are a great source of calcium for teenaged or young women who may not have the healthiest diet practices.

As a middle aged woman whose body is prone to lose mineral density in my bones I find it encouraging that not only is it easy and convenient to add the extra calcium to my body, the chocolate chews are tasty and easy to consume. I received both the sugar-free chocolate and regular chocolate chews as well as the fruit flavored gummies. Each product was a tasty way to get the additional calcium, vitamins D & K without a lot of work or worry. I simply put one soft chew in my lunchbox every day and ate one after dinner each night. They are tasty and seem more like a sweet candy treat other than a dietary supplement. Small changes in our daily diets often make the biggest impact as well as incorporating daily physical activity to achieve total physical health.

I encourage you to try Viactiv® products to get a jump start on your overall health and wellness. Improving your health and wellness should start with what you put in your body followed by physical activity. Viactiv® makes it easy. BeActiv with Viactiv!

Enter the #BeActiv with Viactiv® sweepstakes and show us how YOU plan to be active this year for a chance to win one of 28 prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize, two $500 prizes and 25 FitBit® Flex Wireless Activity Bands. Click here to enter. Now through 2/27/15. See official rules for details. US only. ?

]]>http://madamedeals.com/beactiv-viactiv-calcium-chews/feed/0Pampering Your Pooch With PetsPyjamashttp://madamedeals.com/pampering-pooch-petspyjamas/
http://madamedeals.com/pampering-pooch-petspyjamas/#respondThu, 19 Feb 2015 18:03:28 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=521002Pampering Your Pooch With PetsPyjamas Disclosure: This is a sponsored post brought to your by Moms Affiliate and PetsPyjamas, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own I don’t know about you, but I treat my pets like my furry children and I’m always looking for the best products out there for them. I’ve got 4...

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post brought to your by Moms Affiliate and PetsPyjamas, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own

I don’t know about you, but I treat my pets like my furry children and I’m always looking for the best products out there for them. I’ve got 4 cats at home and also a furry “brother” pup at my moms house. My 6 year old insists that all pets must have birthday presents and festivities given to them during their birthdays. How can I say no to a cute request like that? Impossible! So when it comes to finding super cute gifts for our pets one of my favorite places to shop is at PetsPyjamas!

We have 4 different cats with 4 different personalities, likes, and levels of activities. DeeDee is our oldest kitty (at 14) and loves anything that looks like a mouse, next is our 7 year old Cowboy who has a leg condition and spends most of his days lounging around unless he smells catnip! Then we have Juno, our 6 year old who was born right before my daughter, she is our sneak and loves to slink around and chase lasers. Lastly we have Pickles, our baby who is still in her kitten stage and loves anything with bright colors and feathers. At PetsPyjamas they have something for every personality of pet.

So what makes PetsPyjamas different?

PetsPyjamas is the Number one lifestyle website for smart pet owners – putting you and your pet at the forefront of everything they do, from providing the very best products and services to arranging your next pet friendly holiday with 1000’s of places where Fido is very welcome too. (Yes, they are SO much more than just awesome products!) They offered everything you need to keep your pet happy. From toys to beds, from great dog walkers to pet friendly hotels. All in one place! They also have a social network to connect you with other pet owners and pet lovers.

One of my favorite things about PetsPyjamas is that you can shop by breed! So you can find items that are perfect for your specific breed of dog or cat, as well as gifts that go along with that breed. How cool is that!?

and on top of everything else. you can’t beat the cute products they have. I mean look at that cat cave! Perfection, and I just ordered it for the littlest of our kitties. So if you are looking for great products and services for your pets make sure you head over to PetsPyjamas.comto find the perfect gifts for your pooch!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/pampering-pooch-petspyjamas/feed/0Do you need sunscreen when skiing?http://madamedeals.com/sunscreen-when-skiing/
http://madamedeals.com/sunscreen-when-skiing/#respondThu, 19 Feb 2015 11:12:32 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519346Disclosure: I was provided with Sun’n’Fun Broad Spectrum SPF30 Sunscreen for Kids from Argania, LLC for the purpose of facilitating this review. However, all opinions are my own. As I am I trying to warm up on this cold winter night, summer seems like a distant memory. I know though that it will roll around again...

]]>Disclosure: I was provided with Sun’n’Fun Broad Spectrum SPF30 Sunscreen for Kids from Argania, LLC for the purpose of facilitating this review. However, all opinions are my own.

As I am I trying to warm up on this cold winter night, summer seems like a distant memory. I know though that it will roll around again soon enough and I will be desperately trying to find some relief from the heat. But while I am not sporting my flip flops just yet I am thinking about sunscreen. Why am I thinking about sunscreen? Because we are going skiing this weekend. Do you need sunscreen when skiing? YES! When you are on the slopes the sun is not only shining on you directly but it is also reflecting off the snow. This can cause sun burn very quickly if you are not applying sunscreen to any exposed skin. Many skiiers and snowboards never even think about the dangers of the sun when they are on the mountain but I have young kids and believe strongly in protecting their skin.

I was happy to try Sun’n’Fun Broad Spectrum Sunscreen for Kids because it smells like chocolate. My kids like many others I am sure do NOT like it when I put sunscreen on them. I was hoping the chocolate aroma would make it easier to protect their faces from the harsh rays of the sun. The smell is really cool and it did make it a little easier to get my kids to cooperate with the sunscreen application. I also like that it is thick but rubs in easily and does not feel greasy at all. If our cheeks are rosy at the end of this trip it will be because we are happy and remembering the memories we made not because we have sunburn. Fun in the sun doesn’t just happen in the summer time. So remember to use sunscreen all year long but especially use sunscreen when skiing or snowboarding.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/sunscreen-when-skiing/feed/0The Cough Medicine Battle: Mom vs Coughhttp://madamedeals.com/cough-medicine/
http://madamedeals.com/cough-medicine/#respondWed, 18 Feb 2015 07:00:34 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520043The Cough Medicine Battle: Mom vs Cough Fight the cough not the kid! My sweet little 4 year old boy recently spent a week in the hospital. He is fine now, thank God but it was quite the experience. Two weeks after we brought him home though he got sick with the nastiest cold I...

The Cough Medicine Battle: Mom vs Cough Fight the cough not the kid!

My sweet little 4 year old boy recently spent a week in the hospital. He is fine now, thank God but it was quite the experience. Two weeks after we brought him home though he got sick with the nastiest cold I have seen in a very long time. While we were in the hospital and during the first couple of days at home he had to take a lot of medicine. At first he didn’t mind since he was in pain and knew the medicine would make him feel better. But soon he started fighting us and refusing to take his medicine. It was quite the struggle to get the medicine in him. So when he got sick with the cold the struggle became an epic battle made worse by the fact that the only cough medicine I had did not taste good at all. I only wish I had know about Dr. Cocoa cough and cold medicine for children. Dr. Cocoa is the first ever cough and cold medicine for children that not only helps relief cough and cold symptoms with trusted ingredients but it is also made with 10% real cocoa. It tastes like chocolate. Medicine that taste like real chocolate, now that would have made life much easier. Not to mention, maybe we could have all slept better since he kept the whole house awake coughing all night several nights in a row.

Stock up on Cough Medicine

On average, kids get sick 8-12 times per year. Did you know that cold season is generally considered to last from September to April? Ugghhh! While I really hope none of us gets sick any time soon, I am prepared with all three formulas of Dr. Cocoa for Children.

You never know when the next cold is going to strike so you need to be ready to fight. From one mom who has had to struggle to get children to take medicine to another, I would like to help you get ready for the battle.

Go to www.drcocoa.com and print out a coupon. Dr. Cocoa is available nationwide at stores including Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, or CVS. Check out their TV Spot here.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/cough-medicine/feed/0Weight Watchers Snacks Under 3 Pointshttp://madamedeals.com/weight-watchers-snacks-under-3-points/
http://madamedeals.com/weight-watchers-snacks-under-3-points/#respondTue, 17 Feb 2015 15:59:36 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520640Great Weight Watchers Snacks Under 3 Points with Free Printable When it comes to dieting a common misconception is that you can kiss snacking goodbye. This is simply not true! You can still snack while dieting, you just have to snack smarter! I know I can be guilty of mindlessly snacking on a bag...

When it comes to dieting a common misconception is that you can kiss snacking goodbye. This is simply not true! You can still snack while dieting, you just have to snack smarter! I know I can be guilty of mindlessly snacking on a bag of chips and I know how fast that can kill your calorie count for the day.

One thing I love about the Weight Watchers diet is their point system. It’s easy to understand and stick to, and it really helps you be aware of what you are eating. Instead of grabbing something because it tastes good, you really have the chance to decide if that snack is worth spending the points on.

So in hopes of keeping myself on track, and hopefully helping any of our awesome readers who also happen to be on the Weight Watchers program on track as well, we are sharing with you Great Weight Watchers Snacks Under 3 Points Plus with a FREE Printable! I have this printed out and on my fridge for easy access when I get the urge to snack.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/weight-watchers-snacks-under-3-points/feed/0Olives Recipes Using Olives from Spainhttp://madamedeals.com/olives-recipes/
http://madamedeals.com/olives-recipes/#commentsTue, 17 Feb 2015 12:49:47 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520583Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by Olives from Spain via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Olives from Spain or Momtrends. Olives Recipes For sure by now most of us already know the great benefits of using olive oil but did you know that...

]]>Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by Olives from Spain via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Olives from Spain or Momtrends.

Olives Recipes

For sure by now most of us already know the great benefits of using olive oil but did you know that eating olive fruits are also widely enjoyed by many? Actually it is an important part of the Mediterranean diet because of its health benefits. The Mediterranean diet is a well know heart-healthy eating plan and olives are great part of it because these fruits are sugar-free and contains monounsaturated fats which lowers cholesterol level and reduces risk of heart attack and stroke. It also promotes weight loss, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, rich in fiber and even iron. That’s why we should all add olives more in our diet and best part is we can incorporate it in our cooking.

When it comes to choosing olives you can’t definitely go wrong with Olives from Spain. Spanish olives are a flavorful, versatile, novel, sophisticated and nutritious. There are wide variety of olives available and are great for every occasion. Whether it’s for dessert, appetizer, stuffing or main dish you can use black olives or green olives so make sure to visit OlivesfromSpain.us to know more about this amazing fruit.

About Olives from Spain: Spain has such a rich history that is linked to olives – with trees for table olives growing in the country since the 1st century. There is a wide range of varieties, types and forms of presentation. Spain is the leader in table olive production and exports, with the most modern industry in the world leading to the highest food safety and quality standards. Olives from Spain are a more versatile than olives from any other region – get creative, and find out why they can add life to any party.

Be sure to look for the Olives From Spain logo, to ensure you are getting the highest quality olives and taste the difference for yourself.

If you’re attending the renowned South Beach Wine and Food Festival this month in Miami then make sure to stop by the Olives from Spain station to sample some tasty bites.

Now time to check out the delicious Olives Recipes that I prepared using Olives from Spain

I love eating healthy and knowing how good olives are I try my best to find and create recipes using olives. I’m sharing with you two of my most favorite recipes, the Olive Salad and Chicken Marbella.

Chop olives, giardiniera, and pepperoncini. Mix together in a large bowl. Add parsley, oregano, and garlic. Stir well. Add pepper to taste. Stir in olive oil. Allow to chill for 24 hrs before serving. Mixture can be packed into glass jars and refrigerated.

Once you have olive salad, you can make several other dishes. It is often used on traditional muffaletta sandwiches. I made two appetizers. I scooped some of the olive salad onto a piece of salami and then rolled it up to make muffaletta meat roll ups.

I also took some of the olive salad and mixed in cubed pancetta and feta cheese. I put the new mix on bread rounds to make muffaletta bruschetta.

Place the chicken in the pan or slowcooker and add the rest of the ingredients on top. The chicken should be cooked until it reaches 165 degrees it usually takes 5-7 minutes over medium heat to achieve this. You can also cook this dish in the oven at 350 degrees for 50 minutes with basting in between. This also can be adapted for the slow cooker just place it in the slowcooker on low for 8-10 hours.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/olives-recipes/feed/24Karla’s Korner: Picture Perfect Memorieshttp://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-picture-perfect-memories/
http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-picture-perfect-memories/#respondMon, 16 Feb 2015 16:20:03 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520641Picture Perfect Memories… They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, I probably have several hundred thousand words stored on my computer. When my children were first born, I had the camera nearby all of the time. As they got older, it seemed that the camera stayed put more often...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that’s the case, I probably have several hundred thousand words stored on my computer. When my children were first born, I had the camera nearby all of the time. As they got older, it seemed that the camera stayed put more often and only came out on special occasions. As they approached adolescence I was not quite sure where the camera was. Now that they are practically grown, I find myself trying to capture their picture more often, something which they find totally annoying.

When I attended my 25th high school reunion I was asked to e-mail a picture of myself from my childhood to the coordinator of the reunion. I chose one from my third birthday. I do not remember this occasion but apparently I had a good time because I was smiling. That picture allowed me to see a piece of my past; and while I don’t remember it I have proof that that moment in time was special to me. And while thumbing through a box of old pictures at my church a while back I realized that something was missing. The box, filled with pictures from the past 25 plus years is full of un-labeled pictures. There were some familiar faces staring back at me, however, the majority of the pictures in that box are just that…pictures; nameless, unidentifiable pictures.

Why do we take pictures in the first place? For me, I take pictures to preserve a special time, event, milestone, etc. Pictures are a source of unwritten memories. We take pictures to remember a moment in time that we want others to know about. But what happens if we just throw all of our pictures into a box without taking the time to label them? The memory is still preserved, but cannot be recalled by anyone looking at it. Time passes by too quickly and those boxes of pictures tend to sit on a shelf until someone stumbles across them and discovers that those memories cannot be identified; they remain nameless.

In today’s world so many of our pictures are stored digitally, which means we do not even have paper copies to write on. When I was a little girl my grandparents had a Polaroid camera. You pushed the button, the picture slid out of the camera and within a few minutes it would “develop” right before your very eyes. Then we got some new fancy cameras that used 33 mm film. We would send the film off and a week or two later, the mailman would deliver an envelope with our pictures. Flash forward to the digital age where you can take a picture, send it via e-mail and within seconds share it with all of your friends and family. While the opportunity to have paper copies printed still exists, we find ourselves not going to the trouble of having it done. What happens if we have a technical difficulty and lose our digital images? What happens to the memories? The memories will remain in our minds and hearts, but we will not be able to share them with future generations.

My challenge for you this week is to return to a time where paper pictures are treasured. If you have a box of unidentified pictures, dig them out and label them. If you do not have a box full of pictures, get clicking and fill one up. As I sat staring at the image of three year old me, I realized that there are so many things from my childhood that I do not remember. Why? Because as we grow older we tend to forget the little things from our past, however, pictures are a way to either remind us of that special time or help us take a peek back in time and see what we were like. My children are pretty much grown and lately I have found myself staring at their photo albums remembering them as my little ones. My son, who at 16 is much taller than me stares back at me from the pages of his album and it is like I have been transported back in time. My daughter, now 21, stares at me from the photos of her life wearing her daddy’s sneakers and sheepish little grin. Oh the memories, oh the joy that these photos bring to me. Fill your life with pictures. We have but one life to live, so why not capture that life in pictures to carry your memories on forever.

For me, I will continue to snap away whether my children want me to or not. I am sure I will capture quite a few shots of the back of their heads or their hands in front of the lens while trying to escape, but once in a while I will capture a memory and place it in their photo journal in hopes that one day down their life road they, like me, will pull it out and recall a special moment in time and all the love that their daddy and I have for them then and now. Take a picture, label it and share a memory.

Peace, Karla Robey

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-picture-perfect-memories/feed/0Free My Yoga Online with Stayfree®http://madamedeals.com/free-my-yoga-online-with-stayfree/
http://madamedeals.com/free-my-yoga-online-with-stayfree/#respondMon, 16 Feb 2015 14:23:29 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520220What does Stayfree® and Yoga have in common? Well, I am about to tell you. I was asked to put the Stayfree® Ultra Thins to the test. I accepted the challenge because you can’t be the Real Advice Gal and not give real advice about the issues women struggle with exercising when it is that...

What does Stayfree® and Yoga have in common? Well, I am about to tell you. I was asked to put the Stayfree® Ultra Thins to the test. I accepted the challenge because you can’t be the Real Advice Gal and not give real advice about the issues women struggle with exercising when it is that time of the month. Right? I usually skip yoga during that time of the month because I am afraid that my protection will fail and honestly you are in so many crazy moves quickly that there is a strong possibility that your protection could fail. I bought both the regular length and the super long. I really wasn’t sure which one I would need. I think depending on the day and “flow” I would select one over the other. I chose the regular length and I really was protected for the whole hour class. Knowing this product holds up to down dog and every vinyasa I was asked to complete was so great. It allowed me to focus on the practice and not my fear of what happens if this didn’t work. I am so excited because I hate missing yoga.

Free My Yoga Online with Stayfree®

So how does the yoga and Stayfree products relate? After I purchased my Stayfree Ultra Thin products. I headed over to MyYoga and signed up for a free month of My Yoga online. You can use your receipt from any Stayfree® product. It is free for the first thirty days. If you ask me what is my favorite form of exercise Yoga wins. I know that people are scared to try yoga. This subscription gives you the ability to try it at home. I believe that in order to get fit you need to have a goal. Then you need the ability to exercise no matter where you are. I take my laptop with me everywhere and now I have the Free My Yoga Online class that I can also take with me on my phone or computer. That gets rid of the excuses. The next thing you need to do is put the right kind of foods in your house. You need to set a daily exercise goal. I would start with 15 minutes and work your way up to 30- 60 minutes a day. The point is get moving. The Stayfree® Ultra Thin product removed my fear of doing yoga during that time of the month. The goal I have for myself is to have a dancer’s butt by the time I am 40. I am almost there so I have been working hard on moving my bottom North.

I can’t tell you how important Yoga can be to your body and your mind. However, I live for yoga, it is my time to focus on me. It has defined my body and taught me to rest my mind.

How about we encourage one another by using the hashtag #JustBeFlexible as we work toward our goals to be the best versions of ourselves.

Stay calm, cool, and connected with Stayfree®. For a limited time, received a free 30 day online subscription to My Yoga on Gaiam TV with any Stayfree purchase! Keep your receipt and visit Stayfree.com/myyoga for program details.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stayfree®. The opinions and text are all mine.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/free-my-yoga-online-with-stayfree/feed/0Coach Purse Giveawayhttp://madamedeals.com/coach-purse-giveaway/
http://madamedeals.com/coach-purse-giveaway/#commentsMon, 16 Feb 2015 11:00:57 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=493670Coach Purse Giveaway Welcome to our Choose your Coach Purse Giveaway! Because we know that every women have different taste and style, so my blogger friends and I have teamed up to give you an awesome giveaway event. We’re giving you this chance to choose the Coach purse that you will win. So which is...

Welcome to our Choose your Coach Purse Giveaway!

Because we know that every women have different taste and style, so my blogger friends and I have teamed up to give you an awesome giveaway event. We’re giving you this chance to choose the Coach purse that you will win. So which is your favorite among the 3 styles?

Want a sleek and shiny straight hair style? The Amore 1.25-Inch Blue Tourmaline Straightening Iron Set is an impressive hairstyling tool with its tourmaline plates that emits negative ions for less static and frizz; far-infrared heat is less damaging to hair. Temperature control reaches up to 460 degrees fahrenheit and have 360-degree swivel cord.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/amore-1-25-inch-blue-tourmaline-straightening-iron-set-review/feed/1Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu – 15 WW Points+http://madamedeals.com/valentines-day-dinner-menu-15-ww-points/
http://madamedeals.com/valentines-day-dinner-menu-15-ww-points/#respondFri, 13 Feb 2015 19:08:39 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520229I weigh as much right now as I did when I was 42 weeks pregnant with my son who is 9 years old!!!! Yikes! (and yes you read that right, we went two weeks overdue!) While, I would not trade him for anything not even to be a size 8 again, I do think this...

I weigh as much right now as I did when I was 42 weeks pregnant with my son who is 9 years old!!!! Yikes! (and yes you read that right, we went two weeks overdue!) While, I would not trade him for anything not even to be a size 8 again, I do think this is a wake up call to do something about my size. I wrote about getting back to balance by making one healthy choice at a time and finding ways to hold myself accountable and stay motivated. So as I contemplate Valentine’s Day coming this weekend I must confess I am the type of person who over indulges just because it is a holiday. I use holidays as an excuse to eat whatever I want. The problem with cutting yourself some slack (or in my case a lot of slack) to celebrate a holiday is that there is always another holiday coming. Even now as we have not yet celebrated Valentine’s Day the stores are getting ready Easter. So I thought I would share some recipes for a Valentine’s Dinner that will help me stay on track but still feel like I am celebrating and indulging just a bit.

I plan on eating at least 3 chocolate covered strawberries which would bring the points total up to 15. Not a bad dinner I think. How do you stay on track with your healthy lifestyle while celebrating holidays or special occasions? Please share your ideas, because they next holiday is right around the corner and I am going to need some help.

Need more help?

Have you ever consider joining Weight Watchers? I know I post recipes from time to time and share the points with you all but I have not joined the program officially. I have a very close friend who has successfully lost weight with the program and loves. She encourages me every time I ask her about it. Weight Watchers has extended the “Lose 10 pounds on us” deal through Feb 21st. So if you have been considering the program now is a great time to give it a try. Who knows, I just might join you.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/valentines-day-dinner-menu-15-ww-points/feed/010 CDs That Are Perfect For Massageshttp://madamedeals.com/10-cds-perfect-massages/
http://madamedeals.com/10-cds-perfect-massages/#respondThu, 12 Feb 2015 01:44:03 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=52011210 CDs That Are Perfect For Massages One of my favorite ways to get a little romantic with my husband is to set up a massage night. It’s a fun, inexpensive, and intimate way to have a date night, and who doesn’t love a massage right!? The perfect massage doesn’t stop with just your massage...

One of my favorite ways to get a little romantic with my husband is to set up a massage night. It’s a fun, inexpensive, and intimate way to have a date night, and who doesn’t love a massage right!? The perfect massage doesn’t stop with just your massage skills. You have to set the mood! Some great massage oil, some candles lit, and some awesome background music to really set the mood.

So if you are looking for the perfect music to play during your massage, I’ve compiled a great list of 10 CDs that are perfect for massages for you to enjoy! Let’s check them out:

Did you know that the power of touch can heel? The music used during a massage should be soothing and tranquil. It should relax and allow the person being massaged to surrender or melt while they are being massaged. I also enjoy these cds for meditation as well and they are wonderful to use if you want to be able to help a baby sleep or a toddler for nap time. In fact I use a couple of these musical selections when I am taking a bath or sleeping a hotel. The power of massage to resolve stress and create healing is only made better through a great selection of music.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/10-cds-perfect-massages/feed/0Levana Ayden Baby Video Monitor Review and Giveawayhttp://madamedeals.com/levana-ayden-baby-video-monitor-review-giveaway/
http://madamedeals.com/levana-ayden-baby-video-monitor-review-giveaway/#respondWed, 11 Feb 2015 14:55:45 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520114Levana “Do More Knowing Your Child Is Safe” Do you know the number one thing a parent worries about when they have a child? It is their safety. There isn’t anything else that is more disconcerting than not being able to protect your child. The problem is you sometimes have to leave them alone. You...

Do you know the number one thing a parent worries about when they have a child? It is their safety. There isn’t anything else that is more disconcerting than not being able to protect your child. The problem is you sometimes have to leave them alone. You have to allow them to sleep in their room. Then as they get older you will leave them in baby or child safe room while you try to get a meal ready or something done. The ability to have a monitor will let you make sure you child is safe while you accomplish a task.

Levana Ayden Baby Video Monitor Review

The best thing about getting things done is feasible because Levana produced a baby monitor that will help you keep an eye on your child when you can’t physically be there. I remember my baby monitor it was huge and it wasn’t easy to carry around. The picture was grainy and the sound quality was poor. I am so glad that Levana has resolved all of those issues so wonderfully and has produced a video monitor that can be used long after baby is gone. I know my children have set theirs up so they can play spy. With Levana commitment to baby safety is their number one priority that’s why all Levana movement monitors are digital and wireless, eliminating the risk of cord strangulation. This gives parents like me peace of mind, and gives me time to do more while my baby sleeps.

I am very excited that this baby monitor will be given to my friend as a gift she was elated. When I showed her the monitor she compared it to the one she currently has for her other child and she said there isn’t a comparison the Levana is so much better. I can’t wait to receive it. I am excited knowing that this monitor will bring her the peace of mind she needs and it will allow her to comfort her baby and monitor her baby when she can’t physically be in the room.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/levana-ayden-baby-video-monitor-review-giveaway/feed/04 Free Valentine’s Day Printableshttp://madamedeals.com/4-free-valentines-day-printables/
http://madamedeals.com/4-free-valentines-day-printables/#respondWed, 11 Feb 2015 11:00:31 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=5200084 Free Valentine’s Day Printables Happy Valentine’s Week everyone! Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! Who doesn’t love love right!? Love and candy, roses, and parties are all the fun things about Valentine’s Day. My daughter is having a Valentine’s Day party at school at the end of the week and all the...

Happy Valentine’s Week everyone! Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! Who doesn’t love love right!? Love and candy, roses, and parties are all the fun things about Valentine’s Day. My daughter is having a Valentine’s Day party at school at the end of the week and all the parents were asked to think of something fun for the kids to do. I thought I would make some fun Valentine’s Day Printables for her class and share them with you guys!

I always love to use any excuse I can to sneak in some education everyday. So these 4 Valentine’s Day Printables include activities that are not only fun but will teach your children something. Let’s check them out!

Here are my 4 Free Valentine’s Day Printables:

(Click to Print)

Valentine’s Day Word Scramble- Fun and educational! Unscramble all the words associated with Valentine’s Day! This activity is great for word recognition and spelling!

(Click to Print)

Valentine’s Day Word Search- Another great word recognition and spelling activity. My daughter loves word searches and this was her favorite activity!

(Click to Print)

Valentine’s Day Bingo- Bingo is a fun 2 person activity that will help with planning. You could use a pen and write X’s and O’s or your could use little candy hearts or other candies!

(Click to Print)

Valentine’s “What Makes My Heart Full” Fill In- This is a sweet activity where your child(ren) can let everyone knows what makes their heart full. This is great for handwriting, story telling, or drawing. It would also make a really cute keepsake!

There you have it! 4 (FREE) Valentine’s Day Printables for you to print out and enjoy with the valentine in your life!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/4-free-valentines-day-printables/feed/0Smucker’s® Uncrustables® Food Art for Kidshttp://madamedeals.com/smuckers-uncrustables-food-art-kids/
http://madamedeals.com/smuckers-uncrustables-food-art-kids/#commentsWed, 11 Feb 2015 10:28:36 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519981Disclosure: I am compensated by Smucker’s for my participation in this campaign. I am part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. Smucker’s Uncrustables Food Art for Kids Is Disney the happiest place on Earth. I would say normally but right now it is my kitchen. In front of my children sit the most adorable snack...

Smucker’s Uncrustables Food Art for Kids

Is Disney the happiest place on Earth. I would say normally but right now it is my kitchen. In front of my children sit the most adorable snack ever. This is our Disney Adventure food art for kids brought to you by Smucker’s® Uncrustables®. You see I made the Olaf and then I asked my children to come in and have lunch. They were upstairs singing Frozen on the karaoke machine so I decided to give them a treat they would really enjoy. They always love an Uncrustable because they HATE the crust. I like that I can take them from the freezer and put them in their lunch box and like Disney magic they thaw just in time for lunch. If you are also experiencing frozen fever I will share my tutorial on creating Olaf food art for kids.

Food Art for Kids

The first thing I did was put on Olaf’s nose. Then I applied eyes (chocolate chips on top of the marshmallows). Then we created eye brows and a mouth using the icing. We created Olaf’s teeth out of half a marshmallow. Then we made is hair by using the top of the strawberry. The next thing I did was slice the pair twice to make the body. You could also use apples which I did for one of my children. The Olaf in the picture is made using a pear. Then I put on two banana chip feet under him. I made buttons with the mini chocolate chips but you could use raisons or blueberries. I made his arms out of pretzel sticks. The final step was slicing strawberries first in half and then in thirds. I made flowers out of them and place it on top of the mint.

The Grapefruit in the picture was used to make juice with the remaining fruit that wasn’t used for Olaf.

You can head on over to Disney’s site where other amazing Smucker’s® Uncrustables® recipes reside. That is where I took the inspiration for mine from the Share Your Disney Adventure.

Hurry Smucker’s Uncrustables is calling all Disney Side adventurers!

Uncrustables and Disney have joined together to share creative food art projects for parents and children to explore together. Plus here’s the awesome news because they are offering families a chance to win a Disney Parks vacation!

From January 20 through February 16, just share a photo of your family showing your Disney Side being wild world wanderers, true believers, tireless adventurers, or fun-loving kids at heart to enter for a chance to win an unstoppable 5-day/4-night Disney Parks vacation package for four from Smucker’s Uncrustables. One Grand Prize Winner will be chosen. Then they will get ready to soar to infinity and beyond, live the pirates’ life, be goofy, and do whatever suits their Disney Side with the perfect on-the-go sidekick, Smucker’s Uncrustables Sandwiches. Additionally, all submitted photos will have a chance to be featured in a Share Your Disney Adventure homepage photo gallery. Visit http://partners.disney.com/share-your-disney-adventure for complete details and Official Rules.

Disney Family provides moms with inspiration and tips to create fun food art of Disney characters/scenes using Smucker’s Uncrustables sandwiches and wholesome sides.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/smuckers-uncrustables-food-art-kids/feed/35Massage Couponshttp://madamedeals.com/massage-coupons/
http://madamedeals.com/massage-coupons/#respondWed, 11 Feb 2015 04:11:50 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=520034Massage Coupons If you know one thing about us. You know that our relationship is built on give and take. I do not mean I give an attitude and my husband just takes it. What I mean is making time for one another and doing special things is the way you can really make sure...

If you know one thing about us. You know that our relationship is built on give and take. I do not mean I give an attitude and my husband just takes it. What I mean is making time for one another and doing special things is the way you can really make sure you are giving instead of always taking. I do believe there is a love tank and if you do not take the time to do romantic things for your partner then you will end up with an out of touch relationship. These Massage Coupons will help your partner tell you when they need your touch or require some attention.

I had these massage coupons made because the one thing that my husband always asks for when he has had a bad day is a forehead rub. I often am very caught up in everything that goes on between 6- 8pm. I figured some times I just need to stop and focus on my husband when he needs the attention the dishes can wait and the kids will survive if dinner is 15 minutes late.

This is just another great stay at home date idea. Oh, Did you see our post on how to surprise your special someone preparing for a massage. We have a checklist and some hint cards. The secret to a healthy relationship is to adore your partner and keeping them guessing with what gift you will give next is not only fun but it a perfect tip for a successful relationship.

Well the coupons are great but knowing how to give a massage is a skill you can learn. I went through the melt class online and it has improved my skills. I can tell you my husband said it was the best money ever spent and it was cheaper than dinner out. Melt Massage class it is the gift that keeps giving sign up to make your partner melt.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/massage-coupons/feed/0Keeping Control Of Your Kids Electronics With OurPacthttp://madamedeals.com/keeping-control-kids-electronics-ourpact/
http://madamedeals.com/keeping-control-kids-electronics-ourpact/#respondTue, 10 Feb 2015 21:40:15 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519984Keeping Control Of Your Kids Electronics With OurPact Disclosure:This review is made possible with OurPact and Mums the Word Network. All opinions are my own. Did you know the average child spends 50 hours a week in front of screens? Is it just me or is it crazy how much technology has evolved in the...

Disclosure:This review is made possible with OurPact and Mums the Word Network. All opinions are my own.

Did you know the average child spends 50 hours a week in front of screens? Is it just me or is it crazy how much technology has evolved in the last 10 years? When I was in school it wasn’t weird for you not to have a phone, now it’s practically unheard of! With the growing popularity of being connected via electronics all the time comes the growing need to make sure our children are monitored. Now don’t get me wrong, I trust my kid, but I also remembering sneaking onto my computer when I was a teen to check my AIM messages. (Oh yes, you remember those don’t you). So with that in mind I wanted to share with you an easy (and FREE) way to monitor your kids cell iPhone/iPad usage without having to stand over their shoulder all day. Because who has time for that? What is this awesome program? It’s call OurPact.

What is OurPact?

OurPact is an easy ­to use iOS application that was created to help parents guide the mobile habits of their children, as well as teach responsibility through technology. After conducting hundreds of hours of research with child professionals and then teaming up with parents and industry experts, the OurPact team carefully constructed an essential application that keeps the functionality of family life in mind.

OurPact gives parents to power to:

? Schedule Internet and App use according to your child’s daily routine, and among the weekdays or weekend.

? Set the number of hours your children spend on the Internet and within Apps.

The OurPact app is great for parents with kids of all ages! Whether you have a little one who loves watching YouTube videos, or your teen that has a habit of staying up way to late snapchatting their friends.

OurPact is SO easy to use, check it out:

What I love about the OurPact app is how easy to it is to use. You just pair it with your child(rens) device and you can control what apps they use, and when they use it.

I have my daughters phone cute off while she is at school. There is no reason to be texting during class, ha. It took seconds to set up and can be changed anytime!

Now I have a schedule of time where my daughter will be “disconnected”, for school, after school activities, and bedtime. And no more of me having to grill her to get off the phone.

]]>http://madamedeals.com/keeping-control-kids-electronics-ourpact/feed/0How to Bake a King Cake for Mardi Grashttp://madamedeals.com/bake-king-cake-mardi-gras/
http://madamedeals.com/bake-king-cake-mardi-gras/#respondTue, 10 Feb 2015 11:09:07 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519032The King Cake is a tradition that is part of the Carnival celebration that ends with Mardi Gras. During this time, people have King Cake parties. A small plastic baby is usually hidden in or under a slice of King Cake. The guest that is lucky enough to find the baby in their piece of cake...

The King Cake is a tradition that is part of the Carnival celebration that ends with Mardi Gras. During this time, people have King Cake parties. A small plastic baby is usually hidden in or under a slice of King Cake. The guest that is lucky enough to find the baby in their piece of cake is then expected to host the next party and bake another King Cake. At our church we celebrate Shrove Tuesday on the Tuesday evening before Ash Wednesday with a pancake supper. Shrove Tuesday is another name for Mardi Gras. King Cake is also served at the pancake dinner. The person who finds the baby has to bake the cake for next year’s Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner. It is a really fun tradition and the cake is really good. I decided to try my hand at baking a King Cake. But since I knew it was not your typical cake I decided to buy a cake mix. The mix came with everything I needed including the decorations and of course the little plastic baby.

How to Bake a King Cake

Following the directions on the box, I mixed up the dough. I used my stand mixer and then let it rise until double in size. Then I rolled out the dough. This shape and size is important of the rolled out dough is important. You want the dough rolled out flat as close as you can get it to a 5 inch by 30 inch rectangle. This will make shaping the cake into an oval much easier later. After you roll out the dough you will spread on a praline butter mixture. Then if you like you can add chopped pecans on top, which is what I did. Then, starting on the long side roll up the dough into one long roll.

After you have one long roll you should put it on your parchment lined cookie sheet and shape it into an oval and pinch the ends together. At this point, you need to let the dough rise again for about 30 minutes or so. Then you will bake the cake according to the package directions. After the cake is done baking allow it to cool. Then comes the fun part…decorating! Decorating this cake is so easy. Just mix up the glaze according to the directions on the box and spread it on top of the cake. Then using the traditional colors of Mardi Gras add sugar sprinkles before the glaze hardens. The colors are purple for justice, gold for power, and green for faith. If you are curious about Mardi Gras, go read our post “Why is Mardi Gras Celebrated?”. I hope you enjoy your cake and have a festive Mardi Gras!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/bake-king-cake-mardi-gras/feed/0Rice Krispie Valentine Heartshttp://madamedeals.com/rice-krispie-valentine-hearts/
http://madamedeals.com/rice-krispie-valentine-hearts/#respondTue, 10 Feb 2015 11:00:31 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=514111Rice Krispie Valentine Hearts Valentine’s Day is this week can you believe it!? My daughters class is having a Valentine’s Day party in class this week and we wanted to make something that was easy, festive, and of course, tasty! These Rice Krispie Valentine’s Hearts are oh-so-cute and fun to make! You can customize them...

Valentine’s Day is this week can you believe it!? My daughters class is having a Valentine’s Day party in class this week and we wanted to make something that was easy, festive, and of course, tasty! These Rice Krispie Valentine’s Hearts are oh-so-cute and fun to make! You can customize them in so many different ways. And the great thing about rice krispies is that with a cookie cutter you can customize them for any holiday.

What I love most about recipes like these is that you can make them with your kids. Getting your kids in the kitchen with you is great for bonding and can also teach lessons in math (measuring) English (reading), and following directions! So grab your ingredients, your kids, and have some fun in the kitchen!

Rice Krispie Valentine’s Heart Recipe:

In a large saucepan, melt your butter over medium/high heat. Add in your marshmallows and stir constantly until melted. Remove from heat.

Add in your cereal and mix well to make sure the cereal is coated well.

Using a buttered spatula press the mixture into a greased 13×0 pan. Let cool.

Using a heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out rice krispie hearts and decorate any way you like! You could ice them, dip them in melted chocolate, sprinkle them with candies, sprinkles, dried fruit, etc. The possibilities are endless!

What treats are you making for Valentine’s Day this year? Need some inspiration? We gotcha!

]]>http://madamedeals.com/rice-krispie-valentine-hearts/feed/0Real Life Love Storyhttp://madamedeals.com/real-life-love-story/
http://madamedeals.com/real-life-love-story/#respondMon, 09 Feb 2015 22:09:04 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519903Real Life Love Story I love a good love story. I am not sure why. I guess we all like to believe or live with love. I asked my readers awhile ago to submit their love stories. I was so grateful that I did. It helped me to realize that love has a funny way...

I love a good love story. I am not sure why. I guess we all like to believe or live with love. I asked my readers awhile ago to submit their love stories. I was so grateful that I did. It helped me to realize that love has a funny way of changing us all for the better. I know my greatest love story is the moment I became a mom nothing has or will have compare to that love story. I would love to share your real life love story just email it to me realadvicegal@gmail.com subject love story. I will try my best to share it.

This post is sponsored my Melt massage the believe touch can change everything for the better. Get 20% off NOW . <—–Their class is wonderful! My husband confirms my belief.

Real Life Love Story

Inter-Knot- Written by Jennifer

I was never much of one for computers or technology so I wasn’t one of the people whom was overly excited about the internet. I admit I tinkered around with some online games but as far as instant messaging, heck no!!!! That was scary to me, not knowing who was really on the other end of the screen. I had a dear friend that joined the service and turns out our only means of communication would be through a West Virginia chat room. Boo to that idea. I reluctantly logged onto the room and pretty soon every perv in the world was messaging me. It was all the same, A/S/L, over and over again and it became annoying.

It was a hot June day in 2006, I remember it well because I had worked a double shift. I came in, showered and started dinner. The kids were going to my ex-husbands for the weekend. We had been divorced for eight years and he finally started to keep his daughter one weekend a month like he was suppose to, my son however, is not his biologically but he never treated him as so. Anyway, dinner was done, kiddos on their way so I am all alone. Huh!! I turned on my computer to play a couple of word games then it happened. I hear the infamous ding of an instant message. I ignored it, Another ding. Persistent I tell you, he was persistent!!! I looked at the magic little box and it was a name that I hadn’t recognized. It simply said, “Hi.” I replied with a “Hi” and then the conversation went on from there. He asked how I was doing and I asked him the same. The conversation didn’t last long maybe all of twenty minutes. He messaged me every day from that point always asking how my day was. This went on for about four weeks then finally we exchanged numbers. He called and I swear I fell in love with his voice that very moment!!! He is Brazilian but lived in Los Angeles his entire life. My God if you could only hear that accent. It melted in my ears. I was always partial to men with accents but holy cow, tall, dark, handsome and with an accent, he was like my dream man!!!! When we spoke he made fun of my southern accent, but later confessed he thought it was cute.

He became my best friend over a course of about four years. No romantic involvement, just my best friend. How could we be romantic anyway when he lived 2700 miles away. I accepted that we were friends but I think I always wanted more. We talked about everything, he knew my life and I knew his. He was always so polite and ever so faithful to ask me how my day was. Then in 2010 he told me he loved me. Now mind you I had fallen in love with him years before. I love you to I told him back. We were a couple. We had a long distance relationship like no other. We still hadn’t seen each other face to face for Pete sakes, but it was love.

In 2010 I booked my flight for Los Angeles, February 25th, his birthday!!! We were going to meet. I was so excited I could hardly contain it. I arrived at LAX, made my way to the baggage claim and as I came down the escalator there he stood!!!! He had my favorite flower, a tulip, and the biggest smile I have ever seen on a man in my life. We hugged and then were on our way. It wasn’t scary or strange to me, I already knew him. We spent the next ten days in California living like the couple we were. I was so happy. He smiled as he showed me everything there and what he did in a typical day. I fell in love with him even more. Then March 5th it was time for me to leave and come back to West Virginia. I cried and cried because I didn’t want to leave him there. He cried and cried because I had to leave him there. I made my way back home and greeted my children, oh how I missed them. We settled in and I told them all about my little mommy-vacation. They inquired if I was sad to leave him there and when I was going back. I told them I didn’t know, I had work and so many other obligations at home. My heart was breaking but I tried to keep it under control.

He called me when I got settled and we were still both crying. We both knew we were meant to be together as a couple and being apart was just not an option for either of us. He asked me if it would be alright if he left California and moved to West Virginia!!! Alright!!!!!!! That was the best idea he had to date. I began to feel selfish though. How would it be fair to him to leave everything he has ever known, his friends his family and his life to move 27oo miles to be with me? On April 22nd, 2010, I was back on a plane to Los Angeles, one way flight, I went back to get my true love!!! We packed up his car and drove across the United States back to West Virginia all because he loved me so unconditionally that he couldn’t live without me and I the same. It is now 2013 and we are still a couple, still in love and soon will be husband and wife. He still looks at me out of the blue and smiles and just simply says, “Hi.”

]]>http://madamedeals.com/real-life-love-story/feed/0Karla’s Korner: Love Beyond the Valentinehttp://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-love-beyond-valentine/
http://madamedeals.com/karlas-korner-love-beyond-valentine/#respondMon, 09 Feb 2015 15:19:25 +0000http://madamedeals.com/?p=519870Love Beyond the Valentine…. Love, defined by the Webster online dictionary is “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person; an attraction that includes physical desire or the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship.” I’ve also heard love referred to as a verb, an action or way of behavior....

Love Beyond the Valentine….

Love, defined by the Webster online dictionary is “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person; an attraction that includes physical desire or the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship.” I’ve also heard love referred to as a verb, an action or way of behavior. It’s no secret that I am head over heels in love with my husband David. He is my heart, soul and the love of my life. Our love is just that, it’s ours and completely different from the love we have for other people. But our love is just one piece of our life’s puzzle. Love surrounds us in varying ways.

Believing that sharing our feelings for one another is important I often find myself embracing a friend with a hug and telling them that I love them. I love to love people. It is important to share your feelings and express our love for one another. By doing so it validates our relationships, and opens ourselves up not only to give but to receive the love we were created to share with one another.

American poet and greeting card producer Susan Polis Schutz wrote a poem entitled “Love is” where she explores the many facets of love including strength, reality, unity, the source of success, of the future, of passion, sharing, security and ultimately the source of life…” Reading through the entire poem I find myself thankful for the love in my life and the reality that love is exactly all of these things in various capacities and degrees of intensity with those I share various pieces of life with.

So why are we hesitant to express our love for one another? Is it because we fear the vulnerability we face when we open ourselves up to the intensity of love in a relationship? Is it because we believe love is only romantic? And what about the love we have for ourselves? Do we believe that we should love ourselves? The concept of self-love is a relatively new experience for me personally. Learning to love myself is a process; something that I continue to work on daily. The image in the mirror surprises me sometimes as I become used to the physical changes taking place, however it is the non-physical changes that I love most. Self-love I believe is an essential element to loving others.

American author Jack Kornfield wrote “At the end of life, our questions are very simple: Did I live fully? Did I love well?” Living fully and loving well I believe go together like potato chips and dip, hot dogs and mustard, beer and pretzels, wine and cheese…you get the idea. As a matter of fact, I’m not so sure one can live fully without loving well or loving well without living fully. Life is meant to be lived in community, with others, for others and in relationships that bring about what my friend Carole would call “the good stuff”. It is important to experience the varying degrees (types) of love and be able to express that love freely and openly with others. Nike has a slogan “Just Do It” and quite often I think we should adopt that attitude when expressing our love for one another. Just say it. Tell those around you that you love them and actually love them. Show them you love them. Be present. Be open, honest and vulnerable allowing them to love you back.

As a parent the love we have for our children goes beyond anything we could ever have imagined. At times it’s like our heart is walking around outside our body and sometimes it’s wonderful and other times it hurts. Either way it’s one of the greatest loves we could ever know. The love we have for our spouse or partner is equally as wonderful but completely different; it’s still love. The love we have for our friends, those friends who in spite of our differences love us anyway is deep and precious and completely different for each one of them; and although it’s different it’s still love.

In trying to sum up the idea of love and what it means I believe that love is perfect. It’s perfect because it is the one thing that seems to cure so many things. It is what we crave as people. It is as essential as air, water, and food for our very existence. I would say many problems we face as human beings can be traced back to a lack of love. This week I encourage you to look beyond the Valentine and share the love you have for others openly and intentionally. Love is meant to be expressed, given and received. Author David Viscott wrote “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides”. Live fully. Love completely. Just do it!

Peace & love, Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!